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STATEMENT FROM PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL ON THE DEATH OF SIR SIDNEY POITIER

Ayuko Babu and Sir Sidney Poitier at the 2002 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Ayuko Babu and Sir Sidney Poitier at the 2002 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Ayuko Babu and Sir Sidney Poitier at the 2002 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — Ayuko Babu, co-founder and executive director of the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), released the following statement about the death of the trailblazing actor, director, and activist Sir Sidney Poitier.

"Mr. Poitier was a loud voice letting the world know who we are when Jim Crow tried to muzzle us. He portrayed his people with dignity and integrity, setting a standard of consciousness in Hollywood that elevated the roles available to Black actors. His iconic films such as “Lilies of the Field,” "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," “To Sir, With Love,” and “In the Heat of the Night” opened the door for today's Black actors to demand roles that portray the Black experience with pride, and for that, we will always love him and be grateful. His life and work will continue to be an inspiration throughout generations. Our condolences to his family and loved ones. We all share in this tremendous loss.”

 

About the Pan African Film Festival

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja’Net DuBois (“Good Times”), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression.

PAFF is the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. It is also one of America’s largest Black History Month events.

Find the Pan African Film Festival on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paffnow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paffnow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paffnow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePanAfricanFilmFestival
The PAFF is generously supported by the City of Los Angeles, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Arts and Culture, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Los Angeles Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas.

For more information, please contact press@paff.org.

30TH PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED TO APRIL 19

Festival receives praise from Supervisor Holly Mitchell for ‘leading by example’

PAFF is L.A.’s largest Black History Month event and nation’s largest Black film festival

PAFF 30th Logo

LOS ANGELES — Due to the current rise of COVID cases in Los Angeles County, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) has announced that the festival will not take place February 8-21 as anticipated. The nation’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival is exploring options to reschedule its 30th annual celebration for later in the year April 19 through May 1 in Los Angeles at its flagship venues the Directors Guild of America, Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

In addition, over the course of the coming weeks, the PAFF will explore other ways to engage the community including hosting a virtual PAFF online experience to celebrate Black History Month. The PAFF remains committed to doing its part to help protect its staff, exhibitors, attendees, and filmmakers.

“The decision to postpone this year’s PAFF did not come easy because we were looking forward to celebrating our 30th anniversary in-person with our community,” said Ayuko Babu, PAFF Executive Director. “But we could not in good conscious put the PAFF community in harm’s way. Our primary concern is always the responsibility we feel towards our staff, artists, audience, and filmmakers who travel to Los Angeles from around the world, and for whom without them, there is no PAFF. We remain committed to the city of Los Angeles, where we’ve hosted the Pan African Film and Arts Festival for 30 years and will do so again when it is safe.”

PAFF 2022 Celebrity Ambassador and festival co-founder actor Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon) said, “It’s been over 30 years since we first traveled to FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and were inspired to replicate their celebration and promotion of Black films and Black filmmakers here in America. We want to celebrate 30 years of connecting the Pan African Film Festival audience with the broader African diaspora through film and art and have made the decision to postpone the festival until it’s safe to do that in-person.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell added, “I commend the Pan African Film and Arts Festival for leading by example in protecting our community. The cultural significance, artistic contributions, and fellowship that PAFF offers can never be stopped. I look forward to PAFF safely commemorating 30 Years in the Second Supervisorial District.”

"For 30 years, the Pan African Film Festival rolled out the red carpet to center our stories and filmmakers. And now, during the surge of the latest variant, I applaud their decision to center the community's health and well-being by postponing the film festival to a later date," said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. "I'm looking forward to celebrating their 30-year milestone when it is safer for everyone."

The 30th annual PAFF will feature over 150 new high-quality Black films from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the South Pacific, Canada, and increasingly, Asia. In addition, the PAFF will present over 100 fine artists and unique craftspeople from over 40 countries and six continents in a showcase of Pan African cultures.

The PAFF is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films.

About the Pan African Film Festival

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja’Net DuBois (“Good Times”), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression.

PAFF is the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. It is also one of America’s largest Black History Month events.

Find the Pan African Film Festival on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paffnow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paffnow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paffnow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePanAfricanFilmFestival
The PAFF is generously supported by the City of Los Angeles, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Arts and Culture, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Los Angeles Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas.

For more information, please contact press@paff.org.

Dennis Hopper’s OUT OF THE BLUE: Review

When Life Comes At You Like A Big-Rig Truck

Discovery Logo
Out of the Blue key art

Original Release: April 1982
Director: Dennis Hopper
Writers: Leonard Yakir, Brenda Nielson, Dennie Hopper
Starring: Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper, Sharon Farrell, Don Gordon , Raymond Burr
Presented by Chloë Sevigny & Natasha Lyonne
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada
Language: English

 

Dennis Hopper's 1980 film 'OUT OF THE BLUE' is as powerful now, as it was 40 years ago. Presented by Chloë Sevigny & Natasha Lyonne at Discovery Production, who restored the film and bringing it to a whole new generation of movie goers.

This raw and in-your-face film shows the struggles of Don Barnes (Dennie Hopper), a truck driver and alcoholic, who serves a five-years prison for driving under the influence and crashing his big rig truck into a school bus and taking the lives of children, his wife, Kathy (Sharon Farrell), a drug addict, and mother of his teenage daughter, Cebe (Linda Manz), who is obsessed with her dad, Elvis Pressley and the Sex Pistol and carries the burden and struggles of her parents on her shoulders and there is Charlie (Don Gordon) his best friend and Dr. Brean (Raymond Burr),
a psychologist who treats an out-of-control Cebe.

 

OUT OF THE BLUE- Dennis Hopper (Whiskey) (Photo Credit: Discovery Productions
OUT OF THE BLUE- Dennis Hopper (Whiskey) (Photo Credit: Discovery Productions

As Cebe said, "I don't wanna to hear about you, I wanna hear from you. A statement that gives insight to her belief in the importance of finding your voice. Something she struggled with and expressing herself through her love of Elvis Pressly and the Sex Pistols.

Set in the northwest of Canada with its beautiful surroundings, the rebelliousness of Cebe, who constantly runs away from home, making her way to Vancouver. During her time out on the streets, she lives out her dream of playing drums with a Punk rock band, steals a car and get arrested.

Struggling with her father's incarceration and her mother's drug addiction, has her growing up before her time and taking on the role of the parent.  A huge burden for any teenage to deal with.

OUT-OF-THE-BLUE-Dennis-Hopper-Jail-Phone-Photo-Credit: DiscoveryP roductions-
OUT-OF-THE-BLUE-Dennis-Hopper-Jail-Phone-Photo-Credit: DiscoveryP roductions-

Watching this gripping film, it becomes clear why 'OUT OF THE BLUE' did not get a U.S release in 1980. The film is full of graphic and intense subject, topics and lifestyle choices that many in society where not ready to see on the big screen at the time.

The title of the film comes from to Neil Young's 1979 album 'Rust Never Sleeps' and includes songs from it as well.

The steady trauma experienced by Don, Cebe and Kathy comes so fast and steady, it makes you wonder how a person survives and thrive in such an environment.

OUT OF THE BLUE is definitely a film worth seeing, just be sure to hold onto your seats.

Presented by Chloë Sevigny & Natasha Lyonne
Production Co: Discovery Production, Robson Street
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Starring: Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper, Sharon Farrell, Don Gordon, Raymond Burr
Director Dennis Hopper
Writers: Leonard Yakir, Brenda Nielson, Dennie Hopper
Cinematography: Marc Champion
Editor: Doris Dyck
Music: Tom Lavin

IMPERFECT Premiering at the 2022 Slamdance Film Festival January 27, – February 6, 2022

IMPERFECT key art

A Film by: Regan Linton & Brian Malone
Directors: Regan Linton Brian Malone
Featuring: Regan Linton, Megan McGuire, Erin Schneider, Leonard Barrett Jr., Laurice Quinn, Lucy Roucis, Phillip Lomeo, Adam Johnson,
and Sam Barrasso
Runtime: 1 hour 17 minutes
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary

A professional company of actors with disabilities defies expectations by taking center stage in Chicago the musical.

IMPERFECT is a story of artists…who live and perform with the uniqueness of disability, and therefore have historically been denied their place in the spotlight. The documentary chronicles a unique company of actors who have all nature of disabilities – from spinal cord injury to Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy to autism – as they attempt an unprecedented version of Kander, Ebb, and Fosse’s beloved musical "Chicago".

Chicago Cast 2019
Chicago Cast 2019

Capturing the raw, honest stories of the actors inside the production process and outside the theatre in their everyday lives, IMPERFECT reveals a rare behind-the-scenes look at talented artists who push to succeed as professional performers, no matter the obstacles.

IMPERFECT crushes stale notions of disability and affirms the human condition…in all its uniqueness.

IMPERFECT: Leonard
IMPERFECT: Leonard

IMPERFECT will be screening in competition, in the Documentary Features section at the 2022 Virtual Slamdance Film Festival. To purchase a festival pass, please visit https://slamdance.com/2022-passes/

Website: www.imperfectfilm.com

Production Company: A Fast Forwcard Films production
Directors: Regan Linton Brian Malone
Producers: Regan Linton, Brian Malone, and Davis Coombe
Executive Producer: Mike Fordyce
Featuring: Regan Linton, Megan McGuire, Erin Schneider, Leonard Barrett Jr., Laurice Quinn, Lucy Roucis, Phillip Lomeo, Adam Johnson,
and Sam Barrasso
Cinematography and Editing: Brian Malone

OUT OF THE BLUE Opening Next Week in Los Angeles at American Cinematheque January 6th and Atlanta at Plaza Theatre January 7th

POSTER - 4K Restoration -OUT OF THE BLUE (1)

Director: Dennis Hopper
Starring: Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper, Sharon Farrell, Don Gordon, Raymond Burr
Presented by Chloë Sevigny & Natasha Lyonne

The 4K Restoration of Dennis Hopper's OUT OF THE BLUE, timed to its 40th Anniversary, will soon have a regional expansion: Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville and more.

Photo 1-OUT OF THE OUT OF THE BLUE-Dennis Hopper (Photo Credit_ Discovery Productions)
Photo 1-OUT OF THE OUT OF THE BLUE-Dennis Hopper (Photo Credit_ Discovery Productions)

Confirmed cities:

Los Angeles: American Cinematheque January 6th
Vancouver: The Polygon Gallery, January 6th, Special Event and VIFF Centre January 14th
Atlanta: Plaza Theatre January 7th
New Orleans: Broad Theatre January 14th
Rhinebeck, NY: Starr Cinema - Upstate Films January 21st
Nashville: Belcourt Theatre January 28th
Toronto: Revue January 28th
Winnipeg: Winnipeg Cinematheque February 1st
Chicago: Music Box Theatre February 4th
Seattle: Beacon Theatre February 11th

Photo 4- OUT OF THE BLUE- Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper (Punk)(Photo Credit_ Discovery Productions)

Official Selection: Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival.

"Thumbs Up! Bitter, unforgettable. An unsung treasure." - Roger Ebert

“In many ways, it’s maybe my best film.” - Dennis Hopper

“If a masterpiece comes along, people ought to see it.” - Jack Nicholson

Shocking. Controversial. Unforgettable. - Dennis Hopper’s brilliant punk rock masterpiece of adolescent rebellion is ready for a new, long overdue close-up!

A kind of spiritual sequel (and cautionary counterpoint) to Hopper’s own Easy Rider, OUT OF THE BLUE chronicles the idealism of the sixties decline into the hazy nihilism of the 1980’s.

Don Barnes (Dennis Hopper) is a truck driver in prison for drunkenly smashing his rig into a school bus. Linda Manz (Days of Heaven) plays Cebe, his daughter, a teen rebel obsessed with Elvis and The Sex Pistols. Her mother (Sharon Farrell) waitresses, shoots up drugs and takes refuge in the arms of other men. Cebe runs away to Vancouver’s punk scene and ends up on probation under the care of psychiatrist Raymond Burr. After Don’s release, the family struggles to re-connect before the revelation of dark secrets leads to a harrowing conclusion.

 

ABOUT DENNIS HOPPER: Born in Dodge City, Kansas, May 17,1936: Actor-director Dennis Hopper’s “Out of the Blue” premiered at Cannes in 1980. His directorial debut, “Easy Rider “(1969, Cannes Award “Best First Work,” was a countercultural landmark whose success helped spark the New Hollywood era of seventies filmmaking). His follow-up “The Last Movie” (1971) won the CIDALC Critics Prize Award at the Venice Film Festival. He went on to direct “Out of the Blue,"(1980) - Official Cannes selection; “Colors," (1988) “Backtrack,” (1990) and “The Hot Spot,” (1990). His 200+ acting roles include “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Giant,” “Mad Dog Morgan,”
“Apocalypse Now,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Hoosiers” (Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor).
Also a renowned photographer and artist, Hopper died in Los Angeles, May 29, 2010.

FILM PRESERVATION

Working from the original 35mm negative restored by Discovery in 2010, John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr’s Discovery Productions undertook the digital scan and mastering of Out of the Blue to premiere as an official selection at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, preserving Hopper’s landmark film to make it available to new audiences.The New 4K restoration was shown for the first time on the big screen theatrically at Metrograph in November, 2021 in New York.

Despite critical acclaim at its original Cannes premiere in 1980, OUT OF THE BLUE went unreleased because it was considered too bleak for U.S. audiences.
John Alan Simon, then a film critic/journalist, rescued the film from the shelf, secured distribution rights and took it on the road with Dennis Hopper back in 1982 to art house theaters across the U.S. including a 17-week record-breaking run at the Coolidge Corner Cinema in Boston and then NYC and Los Angeles theatrical releases.

“It’s incredibly important to us that OUT OF THE BLUE be preserved for future generations to experience its emotional impact and as the artistic achievement that helped re-establish Dennis Hopper as an important American director,” commented Elizabeth Karr on behalf of Discovery Productions.

"For me, this restoration project was pay-back for all I learned from Dennis Hopper when we originally took OUT OF THE BLUE on the road in 1982 after I rescued it from the shelf. He was an amazing artist and friend and OUT OF THE BLUE remains as unforgettable as he was and serves as an indelible tribute to the talents of Linda Manz,” John Alan Simon from Discovery Productions concluded.

Chloë Sevigny and Natasha Lyonne came onboard as presenters for Discovery Productions’ OUT OF THE BLUE 4K restoration and 40th Anniversary Theatrical Re-release.

"Out Of The Blue" - what a great movie! Linda Manz in that movie, mama mia!” - Natasha Lyonne on NPR interview with Terry Gross

“I love actress Linda Manz! As Cebe in “Out of the Blue”, arguably one of the best teen characters ever portrayed on film.” - Chloë Sevigny (from her Instagram)

SOCIAL MEDIA/ WEB:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutOfTheBlueDennisHopper/
Twitter: @HopperMovieOOTB https://twitter.com/HopperMovieOOTB
IG: outofthebluefilm https://www.instagram.com/outofthebluefilm/
Web: www.outofthebluedennishopper.com

ABOUT DISCOVERY PRODUCTIONS

John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr are the nucleus of Discovery Productions, an indie writing/directing/producing team. Discovery’s
development slate includes prestigious literary works from authors Philip K. Dick, Jim Thompson, Lucius Shepard and Ian Watson.

The distribution arm of Discovery Productions has released independent films, including RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH, the adaptation of
the sci-fi novel by Philip K. Dick, directed and adapted by John Alan Simon and Dennis Hopper’s OUT OF THE BLUE, currently embarking on
its 4K digital restoration and 40th Anniversary

Hollywood Award Shows, Film Festivals and Events Cancelled and Postponed Due to the Increased Omicron Variant-COVID-19 Infections

20210407_195000

A Christmas Carol at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre: Canceled|

AFI Awards: Postponed, future date TBD

BAFTA Tea Party: Canceled

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes: Canceled

Critics Choice Awards: Postponed, future date TBD

Dune Home Entertainment Release Party in L.A.: Canceled

Fox’s New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022": Canceled

Governors Awards Ceremony: Postponed, future date TBD

HCA Film Awards Ceremony: Postponed until February 28th

Hulu’s How I Met Your Father L.A. Premiere: Canceled

Jagged Little Pill: Closed permanently

Is There Still Sex in the City?: Canceled

National Board of Review Gala in New York City: Postponed, future date TBD

New York Film Critics Circle Awards Ceremony: Postponed, future date TBD

Palm Springs International Film Festival and Awards Gala: Canceled

Pan Afrcan Film and Arts Festival: February 8-21, 2022

Rotterdam Film Festival: Online only
Status: Shifting from in-person to online

Slamdance Film Festival: Online only January 27th - February 6th

The Book of Boba Fett Special Screening at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre: Canceled

 

Dennis Hopper’s OUT OF THE BLUE Regional Expansion

Discovery Logo
Out of the Blue key art

Director: Dennis Hopper
Starring:  Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper, Sharon Farrell, Don Gordon, Raymond Burr

Dennis Hopper's OUT OF THE BLUE Regional Expansion including: Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, New Orleans and more.

Los Angeles: American Cinematheque - January 6th
Atlanta: Plaza Theatre - January 7th
New Orleans: Broad Theatre - January 7th
Toronto: Revue - January 28th
Chicago: Music Box - Late January, date TBD
Nashville: Belcourt Theatre - Late January, date TBD
Winnipeg: Winnipeg Cinematheque - February 1st
Seattle: Beacon Theatre - February 11th

OUT OF THE BLUE-Dennis Hopper (Jail Phone) (Photo Credit-Discovery Productions)
OUT OF THE BLUE-Dennis Hopper (Jail Phone) (Photo Credit-Discovery Productions)

Presented by Chloë Sevigny & Natasha Lyonne

Official Selection: Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival.

"Thumbs Up! Bitter, unforgettable. An unsung treasure." -   Roger Ebert

“In many ways, it’s maybe my best film.” - Dennis Hopper

“If a masterpiece comes along, people ought to see it.” -
Jack Nicholson

OUT OF THE BLUE- Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper (Punk) Photo Credit: Discovery Productions
OUT OF THE BLUE- Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper (Punk) Photo Credit: Discovery Productions

Shocking. Controversial. Unforgettable. - Dennis Hopper’s brilliant punk rock masterpiece of adolescent rebellion is ready for a new, long overdue close-up!

A kind of spiritual sequel (and cautionary counterpoint) to Hopper’s own Easy Rider, OUT OF THE BLUE chronicles the idealism of the sixties decline into the hazy nihilism of the 1980’s.

Don Barnes (Dennis Hopper) is a truck driver in prison for drunkenly smashing his rig into a school bus. Linda Manz (Days of Heaven) plays Cebe, his daughter, a teen rebel obsessed with Elvis and The Sex Pistols. Her mother (Sharon Farrell) waitresses, shoots up drugs and takes refuge in the arms of other men. Cebe runs away to Vancouver’s punk scene and ends up on probation under the care of psychiatrist Raymond Burr. After Don’s release, the family struggles to re-connect before the revelation of dark secrets leads to a harrowing conclusion.

ABOUT DENNIS HOPPER: Born in Dodge City, Kansas, May 17,1936: Actor-director Dennis Hopper’s “Out of the Blue” premiered at Cannes in 1980. His directorial debut, “Easy Rider “(1969, Cannes Award “Best First Work,” was a countercultural landmark whose success helped spark the New Hollywood era of seventies filmmaking). His follow-up “The Last Movie” (1971) won the CIDALC Critics Prize Award at the Venice Film Festival. He went on to direct “Out of the Blue,"(1980) - Official Cannes selection; “Colors," (1988) “Backtrack,” (1990) and “The Hot Spot,” (1990). His 200+ acting roles include “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Giant,” “Mad Dog Morgan,” “Apocalypse Now,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Hoosiers” (Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor). Also a renowned photographer and artist, Hopper died in Los Angeles, May 29, 2010.

OUT OF THE BLUE- Linda Manz Photo Credit: Discovery Productions
OUT OF THE BLUE- Linda Manz Photo Credit: Discovery Productions

FILM PRESERVATION

Working from the original 35mm negative restored by Discovery in 2010, John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr’s Discovery Productions undertook the digital scan and mastering of Out of the Blue to premiere as an official selection at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, preserving Hopper’s landmark film to make it available to new audiences.The New 4K restoration was shown for the first time on the big screen theatrically at Metrograph in November, 2021 in New York.

Despite critical acclaim at its original Cannes premiere in 1980, OUT OF THE BLUE went unreleased because it was considered too bleak for U.S. audiences.

John Alan Simon, then a film critic/journalist, rescued the film from the shelf, secured distribution rights and took it on the road with Dennis Hopper back in 1982 to art house theaters across the U.S. including a 17-week record-breaking run at the Coolidge Corner Cinema in Boston and then NYC and Los Angeles theatrical releases.

“It’s incredibly important to us that OUT OF THE BLUE be preserved for future generations to experience its emotional impact and as the artistic achievement that helped re-establish Dennis Hopper as an important American director,” commented Elizabeth Karr on behalf of Discovery Productions.

"For me, this restoration project was pay-back for all I learned from Dennis Hopper when we originally took OUT OF THE BLUE on the road in 1982 after I rescued it from the shelf. He was an amazing artist and friend and OUT OF THE BLUE remains as unforgettable as he was and serves as an indelible tribute to the talents of Linda Manz,” John Alan Simon from Discovery Productions concluded.

Chloë Sevigny and Natasha Lyonne came onboard as presenters for Discovery Productions’ OUT OF THE BLUE 4K restoration and 40th Anniversary Theatrical Re-release.

"Out Of The Blue" - what a great movie! Linda Manz in that movie, mama mia!” - Natasha Lyonne on NPR interview with Terry Gross

“I love actress Linda Manz! As Cebe in “Out of the Blue”, arguably one of the best teen characters ever portrayed on film.” - Chloë Sevigny (from her Instagram)

OUT OF THE BLUE- NEW 4K Restoration/ 40th Anniversary Trailer

OUT OF THE BLUE- Dennis Hopper (Whiskey) (Photo Credit: Discovery Productions
OUT OF THE BLUE- Dennis Hopper (Whiskey) (Photo Credit: Discovery Productions

SOCIAL MEDIA and Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutOfTheBlueDennisHopper/

Twitter: @HopperMovieOOTB https://twitter.com/HopperMovieOOTB

IG: outofthebluefilm https://www.instagram.com/outofthebluefilm/

Web: www.outofthebluedennishopper.com

ABOUT DISCOVERY PRODUCTIONS

John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr are the nucleus of Discovery Productions, an indie writing/directing/producing team. Discovery’s development slate includes prestigious literary works from authors Philip K. Dick, Jim Thompson, Lucius Shepard and Ian Watson. The distribution arm of Discovery Productions has released independent films, including RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH, the adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Philip K. Dick, directed and adapted by John Alan Simon and Dennis Hopper’s OUT OF THE BLUE, currently embarking on its 4K digital restoration and 40th Anniversary re-release.

VIEW TRAILER BELOW!

CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, AMERICA’S LARGEST BLACK FILM FESTIVAL, THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, ANNOUNCES DANNY GLOVER AS CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR

PAFF 30th Logo

Global celebration of Pan African cultures in Los Angeles returns with hybrid festival of in-person and online screenings

Danny Glover

LOS ANGELES — Actor Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon) will be the Pan African Film Festival’s (PAFF) 2022 celebrity ambassador. The 30th annual festival will be held in-person and online February 8-21, 2022, in Los Angeles. Glover is a co-founder of the PAFF along with the late actress Ja’Net Dubois (“Good Times”) and Pan African affairs expert Ayuko Babu. In January, he is scheduled to receive the 2022 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his contributions to filmmaking and the world.

“The role of the PAFF Celebrity Ambassador is to broaden public awareness of the festival as well as its mission,” said PAFF co-founder and executive director Ayuko Babu. “Since 1992, Danny has made the Pan African Film Festival and supporting Black filmmakers a priority, and so it naturally made sense for him to be the festival’s celebrity ambassador as we celebrate 30 years of Black storytelling through film and art.”

The PAFF is a twelve-day event that exists to evolve the emerging Black storyteller. Each year the PAFF showcases the broad spectrum of creative works and films by visionaries who highlight the diverse stories of Black America, Africa, and the global Black Diaspora.

“I am thrilled to be the celebrity ambassador for the 30th annual Pan African Film Festival, which has had a profound impact on Black filmmaking and Black filmmakers since 1992,” said Danny Glover. “The Pan African Film Festival is a cultural icon that has grown over the past 30 years into the largest Black film festival in the U.S., and I’m proud of any role I played in making that happen.”

The 30th annual PAFF will feature 150 new high-quality Black films from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the South Pacific, Canada, and increasingly, Asia. In addition, the PAFF will present over 100 fine artists and unique craftspeople from over 40 countries and six continents in a showcase of Pan African cultures.

An Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, the 30th Annual PAFF will take place in-person in Los Angeles and online worldwide February 8-22, 2022.

About Danny Glover

Danny Glover first caught the attention of movie audiences in The Color Purple and went on to star opposite Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series. He has also appeared in To Sleep with Anger, The Royal Tenenbaums, Dreamgirls, Beyond the Lights and Sorry to Bother You. A lifelong community activist, his efforts for worldwide justice have inspired others to follow his leadership. He has been a particularly strong advocate for economic justice and access to health care and education in the United States and Africa. He has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program and is currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He is a co-founder of the Pan African Film Festival, America’s largest Black film festival.

About the Pan African Film Festival

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja’Net DuBois (“Good Times”), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression.

PAFF is the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. It is also one of America’s largest Black History Month events.

The 30th annual festival runs February 8-22, 2022.

Find the Pan African Film Festival on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paffnow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paffnow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paffnow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePanAfricanFilmFestival

The PAFF is generously supported by the City of Los Angeles, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Arts and Culture, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Los Angeles Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas.

For more information, please contact press@paff.org.

It’s Back! The 89th Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots

Resized_20211128_152714

After cancellation of the 2020 Hollywood Christmas Parade due
to the COVID 19, Hollywood kicks off the 2021 Christmas Holiday.

The 2021 Hollywood Christmas Parade is co-hosted by parade producer, Laura McKenzie, Montel Williams, Dean Cain, Erick Estrada and special co-host Elizabeth Stanton.

The Grand Marshall is The Talk co-host Sheryl Underwood.

Resized_20211128_114432

The celebrities helping to ring in the Christmas Season are, Kariamah Westbrook, Rome Flynn, Lou Ferrigno, Kimberlin Brown, Lynnette Romero, Matt Mauser, French Steward, Lieutenant General James B. Laster USMC (Retired)

The marching bands participating this year are, Gevorkian Dance Academy, PAVA Korean Traditional Band KAYPA, Greenwood Marching Woodman and Irish Guard, LA Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Maker Empire, Milton High School Marching Band, Penn High School Marching Band, The Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band, LA Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Mira Costa High Marching Band and Colorguard and Thundersquad Drumline.

The 2021 Hollywood Christmas Parade will be televised on The CW Network and for the international audience on Armed Forces Network.

10th Annual Key West Film Festival Announces Awards

KWFF logoa

November 22, 2021, Key West, FL – The 10th Annual Key West Film Festival announced its awards today. The festival showed more than 75 films during the 5-day festival, which ran November 17-21 and celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

The award winners for the 10th annual Key West Film Festival were presented Saturday evening, November 21, with many awardees in attendance.

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The feature film winners were as follows:

Best Documentary - "Bernstein's Wall" directed by Douglas Tirola

Best International film - "The Hand of God" directed by Paolo Sorrentino

Best LGBTQ Film - "Firebird" directed by Peeter Rebane

Best Narrative Film - "Parallel Mothers" directed by Pedro Almodovar

KWFF Annual Critics Award - "Red Rocket" directed by Sean Baker, with a Special Mention for "Jockey" directed by Clint Bentley

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The short film winners were as follows:

Best Florida Short Film: Like the Girls Who Wear Pink, directed by Jennifer Msumba

Best Dramatic Short Film: Feeling Through, directed by Doug Roland

Best Comedy Short: Your Monster, directed by Caroline Lindy

Best Documentary Short: Voice Above Water, directed by Dana Frankoff

Best Animated Short: Mila, directed by Cinzia Angelina

Best World Student Short Film: Bambirak, directed by Zamarin Wahdat

Best Florida Student Short Film: Soundproof, directed by Gabriela Lima

This marks the first year that a non- English language film took home the Best Narrative Feature Award. All feature awards are audience based, except for the KWFF Critics Award, which is voted on by a jury of critics including Carlos Aguilar of the Los Angeles Times, Josh Rothkopf of Entertainment Weekly, David Fear of Rolling Stone, Tomris Laffly of Variety, Shirrel Rhodes of the Key West Citizen, Eric Kohn of Indiewire and Monica Castillo of Colorado NPR.

The 11th Annual Key West Film Festival will take place November 16-20, 2022.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

Films that have been showcased in the last five years of the festival have amassed over SIXTY FIVE Academy Award nominations - five of which were for Best Picture - and 15 Oscar wins, including two for Best Picture (Spotlight and Shape of Water).

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival

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